Film cutter



Sept. 6, 1966 K. H. LOVE 3,270,600

FILM CUTTER Filed Sept. 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 6, 1966 K. H. LOVE 3,270,690

FILM CUTTER Filed Sept. 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :4a fia 136 F 5 E205 www United States Patent O 3,270,600 FILM CUTTER Kenneth H. Love, Urbana, Ill., assigner to 'I'he Magnavox Company, Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 312,199 24 Claims. (Cl. 83-94) The present invention relates to means for cutting a continuous film into a plurality of substantially identical film lcards which may be employed as a storage medium vfor use in data processing mechanism. More particularly, the invention relates to means for accumulating the film 4cards as they are vbeing cut and storing the cards in a stacked relationship.

One method of filing documentary information involves the use of photography to record graphic and printed information in greatly reduced form on tiny pieces of film or film cards. In addition to containing the documentary information each card 16 is marked with machine readable coding. 'Ihis will facilitate t-he mechanical processing of the cards in order to retrieve and/ or use the documentary information contained upon the card. In order to produce the cards a continuous strip of unexposed film may be placed in a camera which is focused on a suitable target area. The various documents to be recorded and codings relating thereto may be serially disposed on the target area in sequence and the successive frames of the film exposed. When the whole film has been exposed it may be developed and the various frames cut therefrom to form the film cards. One means of accomplishing this `cutting operation is to employ a film cutter such as that described and claimed in copending application, Serial Number 141,87 5, now abandoned, filed September 29, 1961 in the name of Leroy C. Kleist and assigned of record to The Magnavox Company. Such a machine is effective to intermittently advan-ce the film one frame at a time through a cutting mechanism :and to cut the frames from the film to provide the film cards. As the cards are cut from the film it is necessary to accumulate the cards so that they will be stored in a stacked relationship suitable for subsequent handling by a data processing machine.

Although the above mentioned film cutter employed means capable of accumulating the cards as they were being cut, it is now proposed to provide an improved means for receiving the cards and retaining them in a stacked relationship suitable for subsequent processing by data processing machine. More particularly it is proposed to provide card-receiving means which are not only simple and inexpensive to manufacture and use but are also trouble-free in operation. It is further proposed to provide receiving means that are not only easily handled but are also effective to receive the cards in a stack relation and retain them in such an accumulated relationship for storing and further ma-chine processing without any manual handling of the individual lm cards after they have been cut.

These and other features yand-advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of one embodiment therein, particularly when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to like parts, and wherein,

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a view of a devel-oped film strip to be fed through the machine of FIGURE 1 and a film card that is cut from the film strip,

FIGURE 3 is a side view of a magazine with a storage capsule mounted therein for use on the machine of FIG- URE 1,

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the magazine,

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 5-5 in FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 6 6 in FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 7 is a side View of the storage capsule mounted on the magazine in FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 8 is a transverse cross-sectional View of the capsule taken subsequently along the plane of'line 8-8 in FIGURE 7,

FIGURE 9 is a bottom View of the storage capsule,

FIGURE l() is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the storage compartment.

Referring to the drawings in more detail the present invention is particularly adapted to being embodied in a machine 10 for receiving a reel 12 containing a strip of film 14 and cutting the film into a series of cards 16 of substantially the same size and shape.

Although this film may be of any desired variety and may contain any desired type of information, in the present instance the film strip 14 includes a series of frames 13 which are all of substantially the same size and shape. The frames 18 are separated from each other by a plurality of apertures or openings 2ti that are relatively long in relation and extend transversely across the film strip 14.

Each of the frames of film 18 includes a document section 22 and a data processing section 24. The document section 2.2 is adapted to have one or more photographic images of documents, letters, drawings, etc., contained thereon. The data processing section 24 may include a plurality of photographic images that are machine readable and relate to the documentary material contained in the juxtaposed document section 22. This area will be effective to permit a machine to conduct a search through a number of the cards 16 to retrieve the documentary material contained in the document section 22 of a particular card.

In order to expose the frames 18 of film strip 14 a camera may be provided that employs `a long strip of unexposed film. The camera is focused on a target area where the va-rious documents and data processing information are placed. The various frames 18 of the film strip 14 are successively exposed. After the entire film strip 14 has been exposed, then the negative may be removed from the camera and developed to bring out the latent images present on the frame 18. The resultant strip 14 of the film may then be wound on reel 12.

In order to use the developed film it is desirable that it be cut into a plurality of chips or film cards 16 with each card 16 containing a single frame 18. In order to accomplish this the continuous strip 14 of film may be fed from the Ireel 12 and through the machine 1f). The machine 1@ will be effective to simultaneously cut the film strip 14 into a plurality of substantially identical cards 16 and stack the cards 16 into stacks of substantially uniform size.

The present machine or film cutter 10 includes a front panel 2S wfhich may be substantially vertical and exposed so as to be readily accessible to an operator. A shaft 30 is provided that projects outwardly from ltlhe panel 28 for receiving the reel 12 of exposed and developed film. rllhis yshaft 30 is not driven but is effective to allow the reel 12 to rotate about its axis while the film 14 is being runwound therefrom.y tIn addition, the panel 28` has on its front side a film transport mechanism 3-2, a cut-ter mechanism 36, a section G8 having the controls for controlling the operation of the film transport mechanism 32 and cutter mechanism 36 and means 40 for receiving the film cards 16 as they are out from the film strip.

'Ihe film transport mechanism 32 includes a wheel or sprocket 42 that has a plurality of teeth or spokes 44 ...o thereon. The spokes 44 are circumferentially spaced at intervals that are substantially equal to the space between the openings 26. The end-s of the spokes 44 will thus extend through the openings 20 and .provide a positive drive for the film 14. A film guide 46 is disposed adjacent the sprocket 42 so that the film strip 14 passing over the wheel 42 may slide therethrough and emerge from the end 48.

The cutter meclhanism 36 is disposed adjacent the guide 46 and includes a cutting head 50 for travelling up and down and moving toward and away from the lm strip as it emerges from the guide 46. T'he cutting head 50 includes a cutting edge 52 on one end that is in substantial alignment with the end 4S. The end 48 and the blade 52 will be effective to act as a shears when the head 50 descends so as to cut the terminal frame 18 from the film 14 to form a film card 16. The cutting head 50 may also include a projection or foot 54 that is adapted to engage the card 16 as it is being cut and to force it into the means for receiving the cards 16.

The section 38 includes one or more switches 56, 58 and 60 that are effective to control the operation of the 'film transport mechanism 32 and the cutter mechanism 36. The switches 56, 58 and 60 are interconnected with drive means (not shown) that supply tihe power for running the mechanisms 32 and 36.

Although any suitable drive mechanism may be employed, in the present instance the drive mechanism is substantially iden-tical to that disclosed and claimed in copending application Film Cutter, Serial No. 144,875, iiled by Leroy C. Kleist and assigned of record to The Magnavox Company. In such a film cutter, a drive motor is provided, which is operatively interconnected with the sprocket 42 and with the cutter head 56 for operating them. When the mode selector switch 56 is placed in a MANUAL position, the feed switch 58 may be energized to cause the sprocket 42 to rotate continuously and feed the lm strip 14 through the cutter mechanism 36 wit-hout film being cut. Alternatively the single cut switch 60 may be closed so as to cause the cutter mechanism 36 to cut a single film card 16. If the mode selector 56 is placed in the AUTOMATIC position the drive motor will be effective to intermittently step the drive sprocket 4t2 through an arc substantially equal to the angle between the spokes 44 on the sprocket 42. This will in turn intermittently advance or step the film through the guide 46 by increments that are substantially equal to the length of one lframe 18. Following each advance, the sprocket 42 will momentarily stop to position the terminal frame of the film strip 14 adjacent the end of the guide 46 and in substantial alignment with the cutter. Preferably the frame 18 will be positioned so that one edge of the aperture 211 will be aligned with the end 43 of the guide 46 and the blade 52. While so positioned, the cutter will descend so that the cutting edge 52 thereon will cut the film along one edge of the opening or aperture 2t) and provide a film card 16. This card 16 will contain the terminal frame and will have a substantially straight edge 62 on one end and a matching edge 64 on the other end.

Each time a card is cut, the foot on the cutter head 50 will engage the card 16 and transfer it onto a stack of cards in the receiving means 40. Although this means may be of any suitable variety, in the presen-t instance -it includes a magazine 66 which has a handle 618 on one side that is of suiiicient size to permit a person to easily carry and utilize the magazine 66. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the magazine 66, in addition to having a lian- `dle 68, has a bottom portion 70 and a pair of parallel arms 72 and 74. The bottom portion 70 includes a guide such a-s a groofve 76 along one side which is adapted to iit int-o and ride along a track 78 mounted on the front panel 28. A detent such as a spring biased pin Si) may be provided on the track 78 or the bottom portion 70 Of the magazine. "Ilhis will be effective to releasably retain the magazine positioned immediately under the cutter mechanism 36.

'Ilhe two arms 72 and 74 are disposed substantially parallel to each other to provide an upwardly directed opening. When the magazine 66 is locked in position on the track 7 3, the opening will be disposed in substantial alignment with the foot 54 on the cutter head 50. A bracket or member SQ. may be disposed between the two arms 72 and 74 at a point about half Way between the top and bottom of the arms.

ln addition, one or more capsules 84 may be provided which are adapted to be mounted on the magazine 66 in the space between the two arms 72 and 74. Each of the capsules 84 is effective to receive the cards 16 as they are cut and accumulate a stack of the out cards. Also, the capsule 84 may be employed for storing the stacks of cards 16 so that they will be available for future use in suitable data processing means. Although the capsules 64 may be fabricated in any suitable manner, in the present instance the capsule 84 is fabricated out of a single piece of sheet metal. More particularly, a pair of elongations on the opposite ends of a base 86 may be bent into a U shape and then bent at right angles to the base 86. 'Ilhese will thus form a pair of end walls 88 that include a pair of flanges 90 that extend part Way along the sides of the capsule 84.

Another pair of elongations may be provided on the opposite sides of the base 86 and bent upwardly to'form a pai-r of side walls 92 and 94 that lit between the anges 90 carried by the end walls 58. These side walls 92 are free .standing from their lower ends and function as cantilever springs. The free ends of the side walls may thus be resiliently deected toward and away from each other. The walls 8S, w92 and 94 are arranged to form a rectangular compartment which has a cross sectional shape substantially identical to the size and shape of the cards 16. It will thus be seen that a plurality of cards 16 may be arranged in a `stack 96 that will just t into the compartment and between the walls.

The upper ends of the walls 88, 90 and 92 are normally positioned so that lthey will provide an opening 98 into the compartment to permit the cards 16 to pass therethrough and into and out of the compartment. Each of the ends may include `a pair of flanges or lips 100 which project inwardly toward each other. These lips 100 extend .inwardly a sufficient distance to bear upon the end card in the stack 96. "Fliese lips 160 are preferably of sufficient size to effectively prevent the film cards from being removed from the capsule. Although it is desirable to be able to `easily remove the cards and insert them into the compartment, the lips are preferably of sufficient size to extend a substantial distance yover the cards to prevent accidental removal of the cards as a result of dropping the capsule 84.

A plunger 102 may be reciprocably disposed inside of the compartment to engage the inner end of the stack 96. A spring 104 is provided that acts against this plunger 1112. This will in turn bias all of the cards in the stack 96 upwardly and maintain the end card tightly compressed against the lips 100. Thus, all of the cards 16 will be neatly compressed toward the end of the capsule 84,

The space between the exterior of end walls 88 may be substantially equal to the inside distance between the arms 72 and 74 of the magazine 66, while the width of the end walls 88 is equal to the thickness of the arms. As a consequence, the capsule 84 is adapted to just fit between these arms and be retained in position thereon. The top of the member 82 is positioned so that the base S6 of the capsule S4 will rest thereon and the top of the capsule 34 will be positioned adjacent the ends of the arms 72 and 74.

It has been found desirable to provide a plunger 106 and spring means 108 below this member 82. An elongated stem 110 may be provided on the top of the plunger 106 to project upwardly through the member 812i and an t' opening 112 on the bottom 86 of the capsule 84 and engage the card stack `96. The stem 1111 will provide an additional force for biasing the film cards toward the top of the capsule 84.

It has also been found desirable to provide a lock means to retain the capsule 84 in position between the arms. In the present instance this means includes a lever 116 that is pivotably secured on top of the magazine 66. On one end iof the lever 116 is secured to the top of the arm 74 by means of a hinge pin 113. This will permit the lever 116 to swing between a raised position and a lowered position. The lever 116 includes a pair of parallel arms 120 that are separated from each other. When the lever 116 is swung into the raised position, the opening between the two arms 72 and 74 will be clear. As a consequence, a capsule 84 may be easily inserted in position between the arms 72 and 741 or may be removed therefrom.

When the lever 116 is swung in to the lowered position the arm 120 thereon will bear against the top of any capsule 84- present in the magazine 66. In order to retain the lever 116 in this lowered position `and thereby lock the capsule 84 in position, a suitable detent mechanism 122 may be provided.

In the present instance, as may be seen in FIGURE 5, this detent means includes .a spring biased pin 124 which is carried by the magazine 66 so -as to extend from one side thereof and t into an opening 126 on the side of the lever 116. A plunger 128 may be disposed in this opening 126 and have an enlarged head 136 on one end thereof. The head 136 may be disposed adjacent the handle 68 so as to be convenient to operate. Thus, an operator holding the magazine 66 by the handle 68 in one hand may depress this head 139 with a linger on that hand. When depressed, the pin 12d` will be driven out of the opening 126 and the lever 116 will be free to swing out of position.

Each of the arms 12) on the lever 116 may also include a pair of downwardly projected flanges 132 which are positioned to engage and separate the side walls 92 and 94 from each other. More particularly, each of the side walls 92 and 94 may have an outwardly bent tab 134 disposed between the lips 160. When the lever 116 is in the lowered position, fianges 132 engage the two tabs 134 on the side walls 92 and 94 as seen in FIGURES 8 and 10. This Will cause the side walls to be resiliently deflected outwardly about the bottom edges to the dotted positions 136. This, in turn, will cause the lips 100 to be separated a sucient distance to permit the cards 16 to pass therethrough. To prevent the loss of the cards 16 from the capsule 8d the lever 116 may have a plurality of lips 138 provided along the edges of the arms 120. These lips 13S are just sufficiently large to retain the cards 16 in the capsule S4 against the force of the springs 164 `and 10S. However, the lips 138 are sufficiently far apart to permit the cutting mechanism to easily drive a card 16 therethrough as it is being cut from the lm strip.

It will thus be seen that `an inexpensive and simple means has been provided which is effective to receive the lilm cards as they are being cut and retaining them in a stacked relationship convenient for future use in data processing equipment. More particularly, to empl-oy the present apparatus, the reel 12 containing the strip of uncut film 14- may be mounted on the spindle 30. The iilrn is then laid across the sprocket 42 and fed into the guide 46.

The lever 116 on the magazine 66 may t'hen be raised and a capsule S4 positioned between the two 'ar-ms 72 and 74. The lever 116 is then swung into the lowered position until the pin 124 snaps into the opening 126 and locks the lever 116 in a lowered position. The capsule 84 will then be securely locked into position on the magazine 66. By grasping the handle 68 the operator can conveniently handle the magazine 66 and the capsule 84 therein. The bottom portion of the magazine 66 may 75 then be positioned on the track 78 and slid thereacross until it is locked in position by means of the detent 80. At this point the capsule 84 will be positioned immediately below the cutter head 50 with the opening in its top in substantial alignment with the foot 54.

The mode selector switch 56 may be then moved to the MANUAL positi-on and switch S6 closed. The lilm or its leader will then be fed through the cutter to the point where it is desired to start cutting cards. The leader may then be cut olf by closing switch 60 and the switch 56 moved t-o the AUTOMATIC position. This will cause 'the sprocket 42 t-o intermittently advance the film a frame at a time through the film guide 46.

At the same time each time the lm stops the cutter head 5t) will be stroked up and down whereby the edge 52 will cut the term-inal frame from the film strip 14. The projection on the foot 54 will simultaneously engage the resultant card and force it downwardly. The card will then be forced through the opening 141), dened by the inner edges of the arms 120. The card will pass between the lips 133 and onto the stack of cards contained within the capsule 84. Since the iianges 132 will be retained in intimate engagement with the tabs 134, the side walls 92 and 94 will lbe deiiected outwardly toward the dashed position 136 (IFIGURE 8). As a consequence, the lips will be separated a suiicient distance to permit the cards to freely pass therethrough.

As the cards are cut, the length of the stack 96 will grow and the plungers 162 and 166 will gradually descend. When the desired number of cards have ibeen cut or the capsule 84 contains a complete stack of cards, the mode selector switch 56 may be moved to the MANUAL or ON position. This will stop the sprocket 42 and cutting head 5) from cutting any further cards.

In order to prevent overloading of the capsule it has been found desirable to provide a switch 142 which is mounted adjacent the track 78 so that an arm 144 thereon will project into the side of the magazine 66. When the capsule '34 contains `a full stack of cards, the plunger 106 will have descended to a point where an arm 146 on the side thereof will engage the arm 144. Further filling of the capsule 84 will result in depressing the arm 144 and opening the switch 142. This in turn will stop the operation of the entire machine and prevent any further cutting of the cards 116.

When the capsule 34 has been loaded with the desired num-ber of cards 16 and the machine 10 has stopped, the operator may grasp the handle 68 and pull the mag-azine 66 from the machine 10. The button, or head 131) may then be manually depressed to release the lever 117. As the lever 116 swings upwardly the flanges 132 will disengage the Itva-bs 13d!- and allow the lips 100 to move inwardly and retain the cards locked in positi-on.

It should be noted that normally the lips 138 are disposed `above the lips 100 and as a consequence some cards may be disposed 4outside of the lips 100. To prevent the loss of these cards it has been found desirable to manually push the stack of cards 96 into the capsule 84 as the lever 116 is being raised.

After the loaded capsule is removed from the magazine 66, an 'appropriate label may be provided on the ilange 14S to indicate the type of cards that are conta-ined within the capsule 84. The loaded capsule S4 may then be stored in a suitable rack or similar device `so that when it is desired to utilize the cards 16 at some future time, the operator may manually select the appropriate capsule by reading the v-arious labels on the anges on 16S.

It will thus be seen that simple and inexpensive means have been provided for automatically loading stacks of data processing film cards into the various capsules in a group of similar capsules. These means are particularly adapted to being easily st-ored and/ or readily handled with a minimum amount of equipment and/ or expensive tabs. While only a single embodiment of the present invention is disclosed and described herein, it will be readily apparent to persons skilled in lthe art that numerous changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly the foregoing disclosure and description thereof are for illustrative purposes only and do not in any way limit the invention, which is delined only by claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described for use on a machine having-a cutter for cutting 'a continuous strip of tilm into a plurality of cards and for stacking the cards in a stacked relationship, said device including:

a capsule having a plurality of walls arranged to de- `fine a compartment for receiving a stack of said cards, the ends of at least a portion of said walls Abeing positioned to form an opening substantially the same size as said cards,

retaining means on at least one of said walls disposed adjacent the -opening for engaging the end of said stack to prevent the cards therein from passing through said opening,

resilient means elfective to bias said stack axially of said compartment and against said retaining means,

a magazine lfor lbeing releasably secured in position on said machine adjacent said cutter,

means on said magazine for receiving said capsule and positioning said opening adjacent said cutter in substantially alignment with the cards being cut by said cutter,

means on said magazine movable between a irst position to permit said capsule to move into and out of said receiving means and a second position effective to secure said capsule in said receiving means on said magazine, said last means when in said second position being effective to engage said retaining means and at least partially release the cards in said stack, and

means on said magazine for preventing said resilient means from biasing said cards through said openmg.

2. A device ot the class described for use on a machine having a cutter for cutting a continuous strip of ilm into a plurality of cards and for stacking the cards in a stacked relationship, said device including:

a capsule hav-ing a plurality of walls arranged t-o deline a compartment for receiving a stack of said cards, the ends of at least a portion of said walls being positioned to form an opening substantially the same size as said card-s,

retaining means on at least one of said walls disposed adjacent the opening for engaging the end of said stack to prevent the cards therein from passing through said opening,

a magazine for being releasably secured in position on said machine adjacent said cutter,

means on said magazine for receiving said capsule and positioning said opening adjacent said cutter in substantial alignment with the cards being cut by said cutter,

means on said magazine movable between a first position to permit said capsule to move into and out of said receiving means and a se-cond position effective to secure said capsule in said receiving means on said magazine, said last means when in said second position being effective to engage said retaining means and at least partially release the cards in said stack,

resilient means on said magazine for acting against said stack to Ibias said stack toward said opening and to retain said capsule against said last means, and

means on said magazine for preventing said resilient means from biasing said cards through said opening.

3'. In combination for use on a machine for cutting a continuous strip of film into a plurality of cards and for stacking the cards in a stacked relationship,

means for cutting the film strip into cards,

a capsule having at least a pair of walls arranged to define the opposite sides of a compmtment for receiving a stack of said cards, said pair of walls being resiliently deiiectable toward and away from each other, said Walls having ends normally positioned to form the opposite sides of an opening substantially the same size as said cards,

at least one lip on at least one of said walls disposed adjacent said opening and projecting'inwardly toward the opposite wall for engaging the card on the end of said stack to retain said stack within said compartment,

a magazine releasably secured in position on said machine adjacent said cutting means,

first means on said magazine for receiving said capsule and positioning said opening adjacent said cutting means in substantial alignment with the cards being cut from said ilm by said cutting means,

second means on said magazine and movable between a irst position to permit said capsule to move into `and out of said receiving means and a second position effective to secure said capsule in said receiving means on said magazine,

third means on said last means for engaging said walls when said last means are in said second position to separate said lips by a distance greater than the Width of said cards to prov-ide for a passage of cards into the magazine, and

means on said magazine for releasably retaining the second means in the second position.

4. In combination for use on a machine having a cutter for cutting a continuous strip of ilm into a plurality of cards and for stack-ing the cards in a stacked relationship,

a capsule having at least a pair of Walls arranged to detine the opposite sides of a compartment for receiving a stack of said cards, said pair of Walls being resiliently deflectable toward and away from each other, said Walls having ends normally positioned to dene the opposite sides of an opening substantially the same size as said cards,

at least one lip on at least one of said walls disposed adjacent said opening and projecting inwardly toward the opposite wall for engaging the card on the end of said stack to retain said stack within said compantment,

iirst means to resiliently bias said stack axially of said compartment and against said lips,

a magazine releasably secured in position on said machine adjacent said cutter,

second means on said magazine for receiving said capsule and positioning said opening adjacent said cutter in substantial alignment Wit-h the cards being cut from said iilm by said cutter,

retaining means on said magazine movable between a first position to permit said capsule to move into and out of said receiving means and a second position eliective to secure said capsule in said receiving means on said magazine,

third means on said retaining means for engaging said Walls when said last means are in said second position to separate said lips by a dist-ance at least cor responding to the width of said cards,

second resilient means on said magazine to co-act with said first resilient means to bias said stack and said capsule toward said retaining means, and

means on said magazine for engaging the capsule to prevent said resilient means from biasing said cards through said opening but to permit said cutter to force said cards through said opening and onto said stack.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4, including,

means on the magazine and on the retaining means 9 for providing a cooperative relationship to retain the retaining means in the second position, and

means operative upon the last mentioned means to provide a release of the last mentioned means from the cooperative relationship for a change in the retaining means from the second position to the first position.

i6. A device ofthe class described for use on a machine having a cutter for cutting a continuous strip of film into a plurality of cards and for retaining the cards in a stacked relationship, said device including:

a capsule having at least a pair of walls .arranged to define the opposite sides of a compartment for receiving a stack of said cards, said pair of walls bein-g resiliently dettiectable toward and away from each other and having their ends positioned to form the opposite sides of an opening substantially the same size as said cards, f

at least one lip on each of the walls in said pair disposed adjacent said opening and projecting inwardly for engaging the card on the end of said stack to retain said stack within said compartment,

means to resiliently bias said stack axially of said cornpartment and against said lips,

`a magazine for being releasably secured in position on said machine adjacent said cutter,

means on said magazine for receiving said capsule and positioning said opening adjacent said cutter in su'bstantial alignment with the cards being cut from said film by said cutter,

a lever pivotably mounted on said magazine for movement between a first position and a second position, said lever'when in sai-d first position being effective to permit said capsule to be removed from said receiving means on said magazine, said lever when in the second position extending across said end of said capsule to secure said capsule in position on said magazine,

means on said lever positioned to engage said walls to move them outwardly and separate said lip-s by a distance greater than 4the width of said cards, and

second retaining means on said lever for preventing said resilient means from lbiasin-g said cards through said opening but permitting said cutter to force said cards through said opening and into said compartment.

7. In a device of the class described for use with a machine for producing a series of film cards, means for accumulating said film cards as they are produced and storing the cards in a stacked relationship suitable for future use, the combination of:

a group of substantially identical-capsules, each of the capsules in said group having at least a pair of walls .arranged to define the opposite sides of a compartment for receiving and storing a stack of said cards, said pair of walls being resiliently deflectable toward and away from each other and having their ends positioned to torm the opposite sides of an opening substantially the same size as said cards,

means on each of the walls in said pair disposed adjacent said openings and projecting inwardly for engaging the card on the end of said stack to retain said stack Within said compartment,

means to resiliently bias said stack axially of said compartment and against said lips,

a magazine having a capsule-receiving portion for receiving one of the capsules in said group,

means on said magazine for releasably scouring a capsule in said receiving portion,

means on said magazine for releasably mounting said magazine on said machine and positioning said .opening of the received capsule to receive the cards as they are produced by said machine.

8. Apparatus for cutting a continuous strip of film having a series of frames into a plurality of film cards with each card containing a frame and for stacking said cards, said apparatus including:

=a film guide for receiving said strip of film and allo-wing said strip to travel therethrough and emerge from one end of said guide,

feed means for intermittently advancing the strip of film through said film guide in lengths substantially equal to the length of a frame to thereby momentarily position `the terminal frame on said strip adjacent said end of said guide,

a cutting head disposed adjacent the end of said guide,

a cutting edge Iou said head for engaging said film along the edge of the terminal frame for cutting a film card from said strip containing said frame,

a cutting head drive operatively coupledto said cutting head and to stop means and effective when the film strip stops to actuate said 'cutting head for cutting said card from the film strip,

4a capsule including an opening in one end for receiving said cards and accumulating a stack, fastening means for securing said capsule in position adjacent said cutting means,

retaining means on said capsule adjacent said opening positioned to retain a stack of cards in said capsule,

said fastening means including means to at least partially disable said retaining means to permit cards to pass therethrough,

second retaining means on said fastening means for retaining said cards in said capsule but permitting the said cards to pass therethrough, and

means on said head for engaging said card as it is cut from said strip to simultaneously force said card through said opening and into said capsule.

9. Means for cutting a strip of film having a series of frames into a plurality of film cards with each card containing a frame and for stacking said cards, said means including:

a film guide having .a passage for receiving said strip of film and allowing said strip to travel therethrough and emerge from one end of said guide,

a magazine for being releasably secured adjacent said guide means,

a capsule mounted on said magazine and including an opening for receiving said cards-and accumulating a stack of cards, said magazine being effective to position said opening in substantial alignment with the frames emerging from said guide,

retaining means on said capsule adjacent said opening positioned to retain a stack of cards in said capsule,

means on said magazine for securing said capsule in position on said magazine,

means for at least partially disabling said first retaining means and being effective to retain said stack in said capsule,

feed means for intermittently advancing the strip of film through said film guide and beyond said end in increments substantially equal to the length of a frame to thereby momentarily position the terminal frame on said film strip adjacent said end of said guide,

a cutting head disposed adjacent said end of said guide and in substantial alignment with said opening for moving between an extended position adjacent said opening and a retracted position Ia'way from said opening,

a cutting edge on said head positioned to engage said film strip along the edge of said terminal frame for cutting a film card from said strip when said cutting head moves into said extended position, and

means on said head for engaging said card as it is cut from said strip to simultaneously force said card through said opening and into said capsule.

10. In combination for cutting a strip of film into a plurality of film cards and for stacking the cards in a stacked relationship,

means for intermittently advancing the film strip,

means operatively coupled to the advancing means for lil obtaining an interruption in the advance of the film strip after the lm strip has been advanced through each successive increment,

cutting means operatively coupled to the film strip and responsive to each interruption in the advance yof the film for engaging and cutting the film into film cards,

a capsule including an opening in one end for receiving said cards as they are cut from said film,

first retaining means on said capsule adjacent said opening, the retaining means being positioned to retain the cards in the stacked relationship in said capsule, the first retaining means being movable between first and second positions and being operative in the first position to retain the cards within the capsule .and prevent the passage of cards into the capsule and being operative in the second position to provide for a passage of cards into the capsule,

a magazine having a portion for receiving said capsule,

means on said magazine for securing said capsule in position on said magazine and positioning said opening adjacent said cutting means for receiving said cards as they are being cut,

second retaining means on said securing means for retaining said cards in said capsule but permitting said cards to pass therethrough, the second retaining means being movable between fir-st land second positions and being operative in the first position to provide for a removal of the capsule from the magazine and being operative -in the second position to retain the capsule in fixed position on the magazine and to move the first retaining means to the second posi` tion, and

means on said cutting means for linserting the resultant cards through said second retaining means and into the capsule simultaneously with the engagement of the film by the cutting means for the purpose of performing the cutting operation.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10, including,

means on the magazine and operatively coupled to the last mentioned means for releasably retaining the last mentioned means in the secondposition.

12. The combination set forth in claim 111, including,

means for moving a film strip past the opening in the capsule, and

means for cutting the film strip into cards and for storing the cards in the capsule in the second position of the retaining means.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein the combination is used for cutting a film into the plurality of cards and for stacking the cards, including,

rality of cards,

a magazine having a capsule receiving portion,

a capsule releasably mounted on said capsule receiving portion of said magazine for being releasably retained thereon, said capsule including an opening in one end for receiving cards,

retain-ing means on said capsule adjacent said opening, said retaining means normally being disposed in a first position to retain a stack of cards within said capsule to prevent said cards passing through said opening and being movable to a second position to provide for a transfer of cards into the capsule through the opening in the capsule,

means for resiliently biasing said stack against said retaining means, and

means on said magazine and having first and second positions and disposed in the first position to provide for a removafl of the capsule from the magazine and disposed in the second position to engage the retaining means on the magazine for moving the retaining means from the rst position to the second position. 15. In combination in a machine for stacking a plurality of substantially identical cards,

support means,

a magazine releasably secured in position on said support means,

a capsule receiving portion on said magazine,

a capsule releasably mounted on said portion and including an opening in one end,

retaining means on said capsule positioned adjacent said opening and movable between first and second positions, said retaining means normally being disposed in the first position to retain the stack of cards disposed inside of said capsule and to prevent said cards from passing through said opening and being movable to a second position to provide for a passage of cards through said opening,

means for resiliently biasing said stack against said retaining means, and

means ou said magazine and havingvfirst and second positions and `disposed in the first position to provide for a removal of the capsule from the magazine and disposed in the -second position to prevent the removal of the capsule from the capsule-receiving portion of the magazine and to obtain the movement of the retaining means to the second position.

16. In combination for use in a machine for stacking a plurality of substantially identical cards, said device including,

support means,

va magazine releasably secured in position on said support means,

a capsule receiving portion on said magazine,

a capsule releasably mounted on said capsule-receiving portion and including an opening in one end,

first retaining means resiliently disposed on said capsule adjacent said opening and having first and second positions, said retaining means normally being disposed in the first position to retain the cards Within said capsule and to prevent said cards from passing through said opening and movable to the second position to provide for a passage of the cards into the capsule through the opening in the capsule,

first resilient means disposed inside of said capsule for biasing said cards within the capsule against said retaining means,

second retaining mea-ns on said magazine and having first and second positions and extending across said end of said capsule in the first position to retain said capsule positioned in said capsule-receiving portion and to move the retaining means to the second position and movable to the second .position to provide for a removal of the capsule from the magazine7 and second resilient means on said magazine for biasing said capsule against said last means to retain said capsule in position on said magazine, said second resilient means being effective to co-act with said first resilient means to further bias the cards in the capsule toward the opening.

1'7. The combination set forth in claim 16, including,

means on the magazine and on the second retaining means for releasably retaining the second retaining means in the first position, and

means operatively coupled to the last mentioned means for operating on the last mentioned means to provide for a movement of the second retaining means from the first position to the second position.

18. In combination for storing cards in a stacked relationship,

i3 a Icapsule having a plurality of wall members resiliently arranged to define a compartment for receiving a stack of said cards, at least a pair of said wall members having their ends spaced to form an open-ing in detent means on said magazine for retaining said lever releasably locked in said second position, and

Wedge means on each of said arms for engaging a wall in said pair on said capsule to thereby move said one end of said capsule to permit cards to pass there- 5 walls apart and separate said lip from the opposite through into and out of said compartment and being wall by a distance at least corresponding to the width resiliently movable toward and away from each other, of said cards. at least one lip on at least one of the Walls in said 21. The combination Set forth in claim 20, including, pair, the lip being disposed adjacent said opening and a lip on at least one of said arms extending into said extending inwardly toward the opposite wall to enopening between the arms, said lip on said arm being gage the end of said stack and retain the cards therein constructed and disposed to retain said cards in said within said compartment, capsule 'but to permit said cards to pass through resilient means on said capsule, the resilient means said opening between the arms and into the capsule.

being disposed to bias Said Stack toward said opening 22. In combination for storing cards in a stacked relaand against said lip, tionship suitable for future use, support means, a group of substantially identical capsules, each of a magazine releasably secured to said support means, said capsules having a compartment therein `for rea capsule-receiving portion on said magazine for relCeiVing said nlm Cards and an opening in lOne end ceiving said capsule, for said cards to pass into and out of said coina lever hav-ing a pair of arms spaced from each other pertinent,

to define an Opening and pivotabily mounted @n Said retaining means resiliently disposed on each of said magazine and movable between a iirst position and a Capsules adlaCent said Opening, said retaining IneanS second position, said lever when in said first position normally being dispOsefl in a nist Position t0 retain disposed to permit said capsule to be inserted into the Cards Within the Capsule t0 prevent said Cards and removed from said portion, passing through said opening and being resiliently said lever when in said second position having its movable to a second position to provide for a pasarms disposed over said capsule to retain said capsage of cards into the capsule, sule on said magazine and provide the opening bea magazine `having a capsule receiving portion for retween the arms in substantial alignment with said ceiving one ofthe capsules in said group, and opening i-n said capsule for a passage 0f the Cards 30 means on said magazine and movable between first through the opening, and and second positions and disposed in the first posimeans on. each of said arms for engaglng the Walls 1n tion for releasably securing one of said capsules in said pair in the second position of the lever to sepasaid magazine and m-oving said retaining means from rate sald llP anl the OPPOS'lt Wall by a dlstan at 35 the first position to the second position to permit least corresponding to the width of said c ards. Said cards to pass t,hmugh said Opening and m0v 191 The combmatlon set rth m Clalm 18 mludlng able to a second position to provide for a removal a lip on at least one of said arms and extending into of the capsule from the magazine. said opening be-tween the arms, said lip on the arm 23 Th b. f th 1 i being constructed and disposed to retain said cards e com'-mat1on s. or" m c aim 22 mdudmg in Said capsule and to permit Said Cards to pass 4() means on said magazine and operatively coupledto through Said Opening and into Said capsule the last mentioned means for releasably retaining 20. In combination for storing cards in a stacked relathe last mntlqned means ln the llrsl Posltlontionshn 24. 'In combination for cutting a strip of film into a a capsule having a plurality of wall members arranged Plurallty of lllm alds and for Stackmg the Cards ln a to define a compartment for receiving a stack of stacked felatlenslnps said cards, at least a pair of said wall members havmeans for mlefmlttently advanclng the film stflp, ing ends spaced te form en opening in one end of means loperatively coupled to the advancing means'for said capsule to permit cards to pass therethrough Obtalnlng an interruption in the aClVanCe 0f the nlm into and out of said compartment, the wall memstrip after the nlm strip llas lDeen aClVanCeCl through bers in said pair `being resiliently deflectable toward elch SucSSlVe mclemellt and away from eeen other cutting means operatively coupled to the film strip and at least one 1in on at least one of the Walls in said responsive to each interruption in the advance of the pair, said lip being disposed adjacent said opening lllm stflp for engaging and Cutting the nlm into nlm and extending inwardly toward the opposite wall to Cards, retain the Cards Within said Compartment, a capsule including an opening in one end for receivresilient means in said capsule, the resilient means being lng sald Cards s disposed to bias said cards toward said opening and Tetelnlng means 0n the Capsule VatllaCent said Opening, against said 1in the retaining means being constructed and positioned support means to retain a stack of cards in said capsule, the retaina magazine releasably secured to said support means, lng means b eing nefmalllf dlslesed 1n a lfst peel a capsule-receiving portion on said magazine for receivtion t0 retain the Cards'ln the Capsule and being ing said capsule, movable to a'second position to provide for a piasa lever having a pair of arms pivota-bly mounted on sage 0f Cards 1 nt0 and Out 0f the Capsule, u s

said magazine and movable between a nrst position means for seCuTing sal-d Capsule afllaCent said Cutting and a second position and spaced from each other means, said seCufing means inelutlln.' means mOV' to define an opening, said lever when in said iirst able between lifstvand sCCOnd p0s1t10ns-and Opera position being -disposed to permit said capsule to be `tiVe in the first peshltlOn t0 mOYe Said retaining means inserted into and removed from Said portion, to the second position to permit cardsto pass through said lever when in said second position having its arms tlle Opening in .t'lie Capsule and being mOi/able t0 disposed over said capsule to retain said capsule the second position to provide for a removal of the positioned on said magazine and provide the open- Capsule from tlle seCunng means, and ing between the arms in substantial alignment with means on said cutting means for inserting the resultant said opening in said capsule, cards through the opening 1n said retaining means 15 and into the oapsule simultaneously with the engage- 2,797,753 ment of the lm by the cutting means for the pur- 2,885,116 pose of performing the cutting operation. 2,893,599 3,138,165 References Cited by the Examiner 5 3,143,908

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,269,368 6/1918 Beardsley 83-96 Bornemann 83-211 Tregilgas 221-198 Kay 221-197 X Erickson et al 221--198 X Schildt et al. 83-96 WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner. F. T. YOST, L. B. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiners. 

24. IN COMBINATION FOR CUTTING A STRIP OF FILM INTO A PLURALITY OF FILM CARDS AND FOR STACKING THE CARDS IN A STACKED RELATIONSHIP, MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ADVANCING THE FILM STRIP, MEANS OPERATIVELY COUPLED TO THE ADVANCING MEANS FOR OBTAINING AN INTERRUPTION IN THE ADVANCE OF THE FILM STRIP AFTER THE FILM STRIP HAS BEEN ADVANCED THROUGH EACH SUCCESSIVE INCREMENT, CUTTING MEANS OPERATIVELY COUPLED TO THE FILM STRIP AND RESPONSIVE TO EACH INTERRUPTION IN THE ADVANCE OF THE FILM STRIP FOR ENGAGING AND CUTTING THE FILM INTO FILM CARDS, A CAPSULE INCLUDING AN OPENING IN ONE END FOR RECEIVING SAID CARDS, RETAINING MEANS ON THE CAPSULE ADJACENT SAID OPENING, THE RETAINING MEANS BEING CONSTRUCTED AND POSITIONED TO RETAIN A STACK OF CARDS IN SAID CAPSULE, THE RETAINING MEANS BEING NORMALLY DISPOSED IN A FIRST POSITION TO RETAIN THE CARDS IN THE CAPSULE AND BEING MOVABLE TO A SECOND POSITION TO PROVIDE FOR A PASSAGE OF CARDS INTO AND OUT OF THE CAPSULE, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID CAPSULE ADJACENT SAID CUTTING MEANS, SAID SECURING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS MOVABLE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS AND OPERATIVE IN THE FIRST POSITION TO MOVE SAID RETAINING MEANS TO THE SECOND POSITION TO PERMIT CARDS TO PASS THROUGH THE OPENING IN THE CAPSULE AND BEING MOVABLE TO THE SECOND POSITION TO PROVIDE FOR A REMOVAL OF THE CAPSULE FROM THE SECURING MEANS, AND MEANS ON SAID CUTTING MEANS FOR INSERTING THE RESULTANT CARDS THROUGH THE OPENING IN SAID RETAINING MEANS AND INTO THE CAPSULE SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE FILM BY THE CUTTING MEANS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PERFORMING THE CUTTING OPERATION. 